Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Aug. 23, 1927.

J. F. O'CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 8, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 A 1,640,211 Aug. 23a J. F-

FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM 2 sheets-sheer 2 Filed Jan. 8. 1925Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNiTED STATES Ltll PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINER, INC., OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM.

Application led January 8, 1825.

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbingmechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a high capacity friction shockabsorbing mechanism having preliminary spring action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of thecharacter indicated, especially adapted for railway draft riggings,including a main spring resistance, a plurality of friction elements anda cooperating friction means, wherein the friction means and elementsare arranged to move as a unit during a predetermined portion of thecompression stroke of the mechanism, the shocks at that time beingabsorbed entirely by the main spring resistance.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a friction shockabsorbing mechanism, including a plurality of friction shoes and acooperating friction post, wherein the.

mechanism is so designed and the parts so arranged that a main springresistance of great length and high capacity may be accommodated by themechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a friction shockabsorbing mechanism includinga friction post and a plurality of springresisted friction shoes cooperating therewith, wherein the post isadapted for limited movement during the compression of the mechanism toprovide for a purely spring resistance during a predeterminedpreliminary portion of the compression stroke.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a friction shockabsorbing mechanism embodying a friction post and a plurality ofcooperating friction elements, the arrangement being such that there isan initial movement in unison of the post and elements to absorb lthelighter shocks and a subsequent relative movement of the frictionelements and the post to absorb the heavier shocks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully andclearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

Serial No. 1,139.

and 3-3, respectively, of Figure 1. And Figure 4 is a detailed,perspective view of one of the friction shoes employed in connectionwith my improved mechanism.

In said drawings, 10--10 denote the usual channel-shaped center or draftsills of a railway car underframe, to the inner faces of which aresecured front stop lugs 11-11 and rear stop lugs 12-12 of usualconstruction. A portion of the draw bar is shown at 13, the same havingoperatively connected thereto a hooded yoke 14 of well-known form, andwithin which is disposed the shock absorbing mechanism roper,hereinafter described in detail. Tlie yoke and parts containedtherewithin are supported in operative position by a detachable saddleplate 15.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism, as shown, comprises, broadly, aspring cage A; a friction post B; a pair of friction shoes (1 -C; afront follower casing D; a spring follower E; a main spring resistanceF; and a retainer bolt G.

The spring cage A is provided with a transverse rear wall 16 adapted tocooperate with the rear stop lugs 12 in the manner of the usual rearfollower. At the forward end, the spring cage has laterally offset sidewalls 17--17 terminating at the outer end in inwardly pro`ecting fiangeslf3-18. The offset walls 1 are connected to the main body portion of thecage A by transversely extending, vertically dis osed Walls 19-19presenting transverse a utment faces 20 spaced rearwardly from theflanges 18.

The friction post B, which is of generally cylindrical form, as clearlyshown in Figures 1 and 3, has thickened portions at the upper and lowersides thereof designated by 21 to provide proper column strength. At therear end the post B is rovided with a pair of laterally extending anges22 adapted to be accommodated between the anges 18 and the transverseabutment shoulders 2O of the spring cage. The arran ement is such thatthe flan es 22 are inserti le in a vertical direction etween the flanges18 and the abutment surfaces 20, and the spacing of the flanges andabutment faces is so designed as to permit a predetermined amount ofmotion between the post and the cage. The fianges 22 of the post and theflanges' 18 of the spring cage are preferably provided withinterengaging means in the form of a lug 122 on eachl Harige 22 engagingwithin a wil sockel'- ll in. lli@ coidiesponfling @lingo 1S olf lli@shelly lo assist in prevenifmff Koelst-ive laty u J1 @mi inovomen ollli@ shell anni" ong@ when the oiinei in lli@ pi'oJoctod ffl;

sillonz in@ opposite sides 'los posi', El is piovicloel with onion, i'nooylinomoal 'inciion snicieaicos 239 livsiging ioziiwoiiily ci lli@mechanism as @lowly shown in Figui@ 'lie posi, is liollow to los lyacconinioflso 'izlio moin spi-fing iosislsnoo, nifl op lisiezlio Golfersioncls in cioss-- 1 l o cfross-secion #glia iniorioif the spiin s? a"sil ooinpicssion stroll@ ol me innoi @nos 'ne snoss i. tlioreoy .ls

ci @nier non neon lli/s innsr Willi of ille n ol ms liano 3% lli@ Iemploi ooopeiuils Willi ille ircfoflge faces lie friction slioos il Tlisare so piropo` lioned 'filial [is inner @nel ma "liront fol lows?oosinf; noinzilly spooefl siicli flislisnoo ilis oulsi oi iont @ncl ollie signing o inst lli@ sinne `will aliul; when tlio mooi .nisni illjgconfipesslix l lille liront follow/oi* casing @no lio spring^'logol'liei' loting is a Column 'lo sin isinil lie lofiil wlioilv n 'lisslop lugs on in@ clia'lt sills,

spii'ng lloi'si is in lli@ loi'in of o. islalively lieiify discprovide-cl will; in nnnnlai' ilnngo ocljaoen @is 'ioni and 'filiali-sof,afls'piocl lo bem on o innen snifaoss of ills ai'iggjos of ills. cfionshoes C. liz fille iloiwaiol @nel tlio solving; follower is if'ecluceclin lamellen "Llioeby fn-ovicling an nnimlai' projection siemlingfbetween ille liongos 25 oi"- ilis shoes "U7 a sliglil: cle-ammo boinglello lioiwssn 'tlio annullo projection and inn-Oi eflgfss oi? l'lisHongos Flllio moin spring issisanoo olsinen spying; of eiaoiclinmycapzicily for lliis 20:11. alcli'lion lo lunCl'inningl as on eloinenljllos spring F selves lli@ hollow i'ietion post oi' .fflioll ns seinoloflwilli lli@ spring; caiga in lmt lie iion; ond of lli@ spring' entendsinto anal lliougli lli@ hollow post ffscivoly pi'sven- ,mi movementilieisol Willi Csoec-. lo

ii lonolli anal und@ initial oonmi'nssxon Ainfer boli G, wliicli lios sfront enel zinolioisl lo :in inigual- (lmgj Doss 30 on ne ion olloworiizio L llie spring' :follower is sui- 1 esseci.. lo nccon'nnocialo illsboss 3() s oeiluin amount o olmmnco losing lilciwsen 'lilo innoi' @nelo, lie lng und lli/e bol loom wall oil tlio *recess in ills ing followerLasii'nit ai Garmin amount onli-mid inoifonienlof the sprinp follows?.Tl j iont nne- :ilso spaced 5min ills inner surface lille @ncl Woll E2?of izlio front follower caisingi' o permit out* "wurd, movenwnt oi thosepai 'is' so lo compensato 'loi' W911i on lli@ wedge snol Iiicllonsniizicos oi ills device,

Assuming :i longing' or compression :iclion ajgipliecl lo allemeclizinis'v ''lie operation is as follows: ills ille front followercasing is niowcl inwsill-i, a Wodging' aicion will los sst up lool-'Weenthe follower and ills inriclion Wedge shoes i". forcing ille lutterfirmly agziinsl lli@ iifioion surfaces ol illu. post is ills follows? Emoves inwardly, lille mail; spiing iesissnce l41 will lio oompi'essffllietween illeV spring follower E nml lli@ vom' Wall folie spying; Cagelli lli@ szon@ time lli@ iiiction posi will on @milf-wl iem-- Waiclljvin unison Willi ille 'fiicion shoes This action will continue until lli@'llzinrges 22 of lio post, come inlio almrmenl, Willi lli@ '-i'ansvsisoabutment laces 20 @lill/1e spring cago il, Wli-sieupon iozirwar'flinovsmeny of ille post will lie :iii'estecl iincl ilievslioes C will beforced, lo slip on lio fiicfion 'surfaces 23 alli@ posi; Duo 'looliiszicilioiilli 'die Pesisianco oferocl will lis greatly angl onlscl,fliiclsisnizil acion will lso lio eifectecll du@ lo ifo@y liveigingi'elzition olf lie iiicion oval lio izlie looss '2Q of ilis raising'-will be ssen upon ieiei'encs surfaces of the post, the shoes C beingforced to travel rearwardl at a faster rate than the front followerInward movementJ of the front follower will finally be arrested byengagement thereof with the outer end of the spring cage as hereinbeforedescribed, thereby preventing the spring resistance ele ment from beingdriven solid.

Upon removal of the actuating or compression force. the initial actionwill be an out-ward movement of the friction post in unison with thefriction shoes, due to the tight frictional contact between thecooperating friction surfaces thereof. This movement will continue untilthe post is arrested by engagement of the tla'n es 22 thereof with theinner faces of the anges 18 of the cage A, whereupon the shoes` togetherwith front follower, will be forced outwardly with reference to the sring cage A and the post B. The parts will thus all be restored tonormal position, relative separation of the front follower casing D andthe spring cage A being limited by the retainer bolt G.

With the arran ment above described. it will be evident t at acomparatively light preliminary s ring action is obtained, to absorb thelig iter shocks and a relatively heavy friction resistance is thereafterhad to absorb the heavier shocks. It will also be evident that byproviding a hollow friction post through which the main springresistance extends and providing means at the outer ends of the frictionshoes to coo rate with the'spring follower, it is pos-h si le to employa sprin of maximum overall length and of exceedingly high capacity. Itwill further be evident that the connection between the friction postand the spring cage casting is auch as to render the post readilyremovable so that the saine may be easily renewed and the oost ofrepairs thus minimized.

I have herein shown and dcribed what I now consider the preferred mannerof carvying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and Icontemplate all changers and modifications that come within the scopo ofthe claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanisin. the combination withrelatively mov` able follower-acting means; ofV a central friction posthaving a lost motion connection with one of said followers permittinglimited movement of the post with reference to said follower means toprovide lfor reliniinary spring action; a. pluralit of riction shoescooperating with sai friction post, said shoes and the yotherfollowenacting means having cooperating wedge faces; and a main springresistance interposed between said shoes and follower means yto whichthe friction poet is anchored.

of a hollow friction 2.In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, thecombination with a main follower; of a friction element havinglongitudinally disposed friction surfaces. said friction element havinga lost motion connection with said follower; a plurality of friction slioes; a centrally disposed main spring resistance cooperating with saidshoes; a movable wedge pressure transmitting niember cooperating withsaid shoes to force the same against the friction surfaces of saidelement and effect movement of the latter and said shoes inwardly of themechanism as a unitl during the initial portion of thecompression'stroke; and means for limitingr the inward movement of saidelement after a predetermined portion of said compression stroke,whereby said shoes will be `forced to move relatively to said frictionelement.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechamsm. the combination with a springcage; element havin means thereon for anchoring the same to t e cage,said means permitting limited relative lon itudinal movement withreference to t e cage; friction wedge shoes cooperating with thefriction element; wedge rassure transmitting means cooperating with thefriction shoes: and a main spring disposed within the spring cage, saids ring being continuous and extending into tlie friction element toprevent relative lateral displacement of the element and cage tomaintain the friction element assembled with the spring cage, saidspring engaging the shoes and resisting inward movement of the latter;

4. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with aspring casing having an end wall with an opening therein, said casingbeing provided with sets of spaced shouldersi adjacent said opening on te outer side of said wall; of a hollow friction element having laterallyextended shoulders on the opposite sides thereof, said element beingadapted to be assembled with said casing by moving the elementtransversely of the casing with the shoulders of said element betweensaid sets of spaced shoulders of the casing, the shoulders of saidelement being of less thickness than the space between the shoulders ofeach set of the casing to thereby permit said element to move relativelytoward and from said end wall of the casing: friction elementscooperating with said element; and spring means disposed within saidcasing normally extending through said end wall opening of the springcasing into the interior of the adjacent end of said element andbridging the space between the said end wall and shell. said springmeans preventing acci dental movement of the element transverselyrelatively to the casing.

5. In a friction shock absorbing meehathe combination with a springcasing open at one end thereof; of a hollow friction element disposed atsaid open end of the easing; cooperating transverse shoulders on saidelement and casing permitting said element to be assembled with thecasing by a movement of said element transversely of the casing, saidshoulders being spaced apart longitudinally in the normal position ofthe parts, thereby adapting the element for a limited amount of movementwith respect to the casing; friction members 30/- operating with saidelement; and a continuous spring disposed within the easing extendingthrough the. open end of the latter and into said hollow element, said'spring preventing lateral disengagement of said element and casing.

6. ln a friction shock absorbingmechanism. the combination with a springcage; of a friction member having limited relative movement withreference to the sprin cage; friction elements on one side of saidriction member, said elements and member having cooperating frictionsurfaces; a main sprin resistance Within said spring cage, sai springresistance being disposed on the other retoma side of said frictionmember; and pressure transmitting means, said ting means and friction eements having cooperating Wedge faces.

7 lln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with aspring cage casting; of a detachable friction post, lsaid post beinghollow, and said post and cage having interengaging holding meansthereon lfor-detachably connecting the post to the cage, permitting thevcage and post to be assembled by relative ilateral movement thereof andlimiting outward longitudinal movement of the cage and post whenassembled; a friction Wedge system co-operating with the post; and aspring resistance within the spring cage co-operating with the wedgesystem, said spring resistance extending into the hollow portion of thepost, thereby preventing lateral separation of the post and cage.

In witness that l claim the foregoing l ressure transmithave hereuntosubscribed my name this 5th y day of January, 1925.v

JOHN l". CONNR.

